The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-02-26

unless you are weary of your troublesome
charge"
"Miriam v'-reproachf know |
sought only your welfare and happiness in
speaking So God knows | would not have
you leave me until your heart makes its
own free choice.'
81 have chosen" she began impusively
-unthinkingly indeed-then with a Grim
son blush, she turned away. II mean"
she added hastily, ''that Mr. Livingston
could never, under any possible circum-
stances, be my hearts free choice, and so
You must tell him, guardy."
And she hastily quilted the library, where
she was fond of bringing her dainty needle
work and chatting with her indulgent
guardian, followed soon after by the colonel
who wore an unusually thoughtful face.
Then the curtains of the deep bay-win-
dow parted, and a graceful little figure in
blue cashmere, which had been curled up
there all this time with favorite novel,
stepped forth.
"a pretty little scene, upon my word"
murmured she, with a soft but unpleasant
little laugh. 'If l didn't know exactly
whom she has chosen, might easily fancy
Miriam in love with her handsome guard
ian. But the interview that | have just
overheard, and my charming Miriam's
bushes, have put new idea into my head,
at all events. must give Mr.. Philip Traf-
ton the benefit of it, Iwonder where he
isr .~
And with light melody on her rosy lips
and wicked gleam in her pretty blue eyes,
Nab Leslie fitted away on her errand of
mischief
She found her victim-Lieutenant Philip
Trafton, nephew of Miriam's guardian
loungng in the drawing-room, looking
ing in his inmost heart that the time was
not drawing so near when he would have
to leave the girl whom he had learned to
love so deeply to rejoin his regiment in the
far West.
Can you keep secret, my brave lieu
tenant?" she banteringly exclamed,in that
gay, chid-like way that seemed so in har-
mony with her light, airy style of beauty.
"Or rather, will you, if coniile to you a
chariuing little romance of real life which
has just come to my knowledge?"
And she came smilingly toward him and
sank gracefully down on the sofa by his
side, her ribbons fluttering, and her pretty,
childish lips and eyes full of sweet per-
suasion.
"Only trust me, lady fair" he laughed,
in the same exaggerated style of nonsense,
without thought as to what the romance
might be or whom it might concern. 81
promise"
"Well, then -confilentially-"in the
first place, Miriam has refused-yes, posi-
lively and Internationally refused that ric
Mr.. Livingston whom we all thought she
would marry, because, you know. her faith
er arranged the match before he died."
"Yes?" said the lieutenant, trying hare
to look Indifferent, though his heart gave &
sudden bound, for he had been led by Ger
tain remarks of Colonel Trafton to believ,
= that Miriam was more than likely to even
tually to fulfill her fathers wishes in th,
matter.
eyes," assented Nab, innocently. "AnC
what do you suppose? 1t is all because sh,
is in love with her guardian. Oh! can
tell you how beautifully it all came about
but it put me in mind of stories ~
"NIiss Leslier' broke IN Philip Trafton
staring at his fair informant with NOR
blank amazement than politeness. "Wha
nonsense is this you are imagining? Miriam
Grey in love with my uncle, indeed! Why
he is old enough to be her father"
"He's very handsome man for all that,
declared Nab, emphatically. "And it
nothing strange, I'm sure, for girls t,
marry their guardians. They often do
and if you had only seen Miriam's blush
es-'
Excuse me, Miss Mabel, but we will
= change the subject, if you please" he in
terrupted dryly. "We have no right t,
discuss Miss Grey's private affairs. an
sorry you did not await her permission l.
speak of it,"
ooh, she does not know that chance,
!, to hear them talking" exclaimed the fai
:, schemer, chagrined and little frightened
" 81 don't think they want it known as yet
But, remember, you promised to keep tn
secret
He bowed slightly in acknowledgment
: then, excusing himself, went from tn
" room.
But, though half despising Nab for he
share in the matter, still he could not dis
= lodge from his mind the fact that it nigh
u all be true. He reflected that his uncle wa
indeed man whom any woman might ad
mre, and that, as Nab had sweetly assure,
l. him, it was nothing new for girl to lov,
o and marry her guardian ,
: His bronzed cheek grew slowly pale as h
" realized all this. He had learned to Low,
Miriam far more strongly than he knew
and he was just finding out, also, hov
u sanguine were the hopes he had cherished
l. of winning her. despite the half-recognizet
i claims of Mr. Livingston.
" 81 can't break that confounded Promis
. l gave her." he mutterei, referring almos
Is savagely in his thoughts to Mabel Leslie
. "But I'll find some way to test Miriam
'e feelings, and if it is true, why, then"
= A long, discouraged sigh finished tn
" sentence for him,
"My uncle is an exceedingly attractiy
Is man-handsomer than most of the younge
lie men, 10 YOU not think sop he questione
lie of Miriam. with assumed carelessness. tina
4 evening, glancing over to where the colone
stood talking with Miss Leslie, his soldier
a ly form erect and his siyery, y,crlsply-curlin
Pr hair giving youthful charm to his strong
he kindly face.